Tech

Will the Google X Phone Be Shatter-Proof?

Google reported its quarterly earnings yesterday, and although the company's Motorola division posted a big loss, executives pointed out that the hardware maker had a 12- to 18-month product pipeline already in place when Google acquired it in 2011. That roadmap is now nearing its end, and attention is turning to what comes after — specifically, the rumored Google X phone.

Rumors of the Google X phone began last fall when the Wall Street Journal ran a piece declaring its existence, citing "people familiar with the matter." The Google X phone is said to be the most advanced Android hardware the company could possibly make, which will "stand apart" from all other phones on the market. A Google X tablet is supposedly also in the works.

The specific features of such a device have been the subject of intense speculation since the rumors began. While everything about the phone remains unconfirmed, there have been some hints about what the key features of the Google X phone might be.

There's a good chance Google X will be much more durable than the phones of today. Rumors about the phone center around the screen being bendable, similar to a prototype device Samsung unveiled at CES. The benefits of a "bendy" phone are questionable, but using a flexible display would result in a phone that's much more immune to shattering, unlike the relatively fragile touch screens of today.

Another source points toward an ultra-durable Google phone, and that's CEO Larry Page himself. In a lengthy interview with Wired, Page strongly suggested that device durability was of strong interest to Google.

"There’s a lot of room for innovation in hardware," Page said. "The phones we use now have glass that everyone worries will break if they drop the device. Five or 10 years from now, that will be different."

What other features might be on board the Google X phone? That's anyone's guess, but other rumors suggest extra-long battery life. That truly would be a breakthrough but probably less likely. Battery technology has only progressed incrementally in recent years, and big improvements are still likely years away. Fuel cells, which could power devices for weeks, are a possibility, but bring with them a host of new issues, such as supporting infrastructure.

The biggest problem Google faces in mobile innovation is competition. Apple, Samsung, Nokia, HTC and Research In Motion (among others) are in a never-ending race to be the first to market with any particular problem-solving feature. Some of the rumors surrounding the Google X phone included a panorama mode and better color saturation for photos, but those features have already appeared on devices like the iPhone 5.

Do you think Google X will live up to the hype? Let us know in the comments.

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